Collecting Your Judgment

If the judgment debtor has not paid you the judgment debt when it is due – or made arrangements to pay you over time – California law gives you, the judgment creditor, a number of ways to collect AFTER the30-day waiting period is over.

NOTE 2: The debtor has the right to ask the court to protect some types of wages or property from being used to pay a judgment debt, and you, the judgment creditor, have the right to object to the debtor’s request for an exemption. Here's how to:

The general process for collecting a judgment from a debtor is similar throughout California, but there may be some differences from one county to another. For example, in many counties the Sheriff is the most commonly-used levying officer, while in other counties, someone else (like a Registered Process Server) might fill that role. To find out what you must do in your county, contact the Small Claims Advisor.